A GROUP of businesses and community groups has banded together to contribute nearly $200,000 to an accessibility pilot program at Frankston Beach.
Last month, Accessible Beaches Australia unveiled its plans to make Frankston Beach the most accessible in the country by installing matting, beach wheelchairs, bookable day beds, and designated drop-off zones. The funding boost for the pilot will allow it to proceed next month – the money is set to be spent on equipment and the provision of support staff and trained volunteers.
Frankston mayor Kris Bolam was part of the fundraising campaign – he said he was “amazed by the generosity” of the donors.
“Fundraising is more than raising money—it’s raising hope. It reflects the generosity and unity that define a healthy, thriving community. When people give freely, they show that the true wealth of a community lies in its people,” he said. “I am impressed by the breadth of support behind this initiative—nearly thirty organisations contributing in both monetary and in-kind ways, from service groups and charities to businesses and regional partners. This diversity of generosity reflects the compassion and shared commitment that make Frankston extraordinary. I’m deeply proud of my community.”
The accessible site between Frankson Pier and Kananook Creek is set to include 70 meters of beach matting, four beach wheelchairs and two beach walkers, a hoist, and trained staff and volunteers.
The organisations which signed up as sponsors for the program were Social Inclusion Action Group – Frankston, Rotary Peninsula 2.0, Anaconda, Peninsula Leisure, Frankston RSL, Sandhurst Club, Monash University, Challenger Services Group/Nivad, Excel Australasia, The Dicker Family, The Australian Wuxi General Chamber of Commerce, MAAC Care, Seaford RSL, Frankston District Basketball Association, Grace Professional Services, Frankston District Netball Association, Signature Hospitality Group, Ecco Enterprises Group, Sinopec, South East Water, Bayside Shopping Centre/Vicinity, Ash Marton Realty, Rotary Club of Frankston, Rotary Club of Frankston Sunrise, Frankston North Rotary, Peninsula Health, Peninsula Rotaract, Chisholm TAFE Frankston, Frankston Business Collective, and CBRE management (ISPT).
Frankston councillor Nathan Butler, who is the chair of the Australia’s Most Accessible Beach Advisory Committee, said “the success of the fundraising campaign means that some of council’s own contribution for the first year of the pilot can he be held over for future years, giving this exciting initiative the best possible chance of becoming an ongoing feature of our summer.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 2 December 2025